Let's Talk About It Later

“How long have you been sitting there? Didn’t you hear me knock? What, were you going to leave me outside until someone called the cops?”

“...”

“The forecast is for a storm, you know? Were you going to leave me out there in the rain?”

“It’s a fuckin’ apartment building, Daniel, and out there it’s a fuckin’ corridor, you wouldn’t be in the rain.”

“Look, so she talks! Thank God your mother gave me a copy of the key.”

“Well, she shouldn’t have done that, she had no right...”

“Well... At least tell me you remembered to eat something, since from the looks of it you've been sitting at that table for God knows how long.”

“I ate... I ate, okay? Satisfied? You can go now. Bon fuckin' voyage! And thanks for the fuckin’ visit! Let’s not do this shit again.”

“Funny... Did you eat, then? And when was that? Around the last time you remembered to take a bath?”

“Please, Daniel... Please don't start with that shit.”

“You can’t live on coffee and cigarettes alone, you know that? How long have you been sitting around that table, huh? Did you sleep at all last night, even close your eyes for a few minutes? Don’t tell me that all that mountain in that damned ashtray is the result of a single sleepless night, for God’s sake.”

“My mother shouldn’t have given you a copy of the fuckin’ key...”

“She’s worried about you, that’s all.”

“Oh really? If she really cares, then why doesn’t she come here and bust my balls herself? Why does she make you come, why did she put this burden on your shoulders?”

“Darling... Darling, you are no burden...”

“Shut up! And your wife, huh? Does the poor thing know you’re here, holding hands with another woman? Your ex, no less...”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s my problem. And she… She understands, okay?”

“Funny, I think I take after my mother...”

“…”

“We never got along, we were always at war, and maybe, in the end, the fact that we are so similar is the main reason...”

“What are you talking about, Jen? God... Look! I can feel your bones—I can see your bones, look how thin your skin is! You need to remember to eat, hon...”

“Two shitty mothers, the two of us, me and her...”

“Honey, please stop it...”

“Two shitty mothers!”

"Honey..."

“...”

“You shouldn’t say those things, Jen, it’s not true...”

“I know, I know... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I don't mean to upset you. I was just... Thinking out loud, that's all. I'm so sorry. Oh my God, I'm so, so, so sorry... Daniel... Daniel… I'm so sorry, please believe me!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Stop it! Please, stop it...”

“Okay. I’m sorry, I’m sorry...”

“Enough, okay? Right... Let’s see what you’ve got around here. In the cupboards, let’s see... Hmm... Dust, and more dust, and cobwebs... No, no... Sounds a little indigestible for breakfast. Refrigerator, how about we try the refrigerator? Jesus, a million lunch boxes! Hey, I recognize those containers. Oh, sure! I’ve brought all these dishes for you over the last three or four weeks, haven’t I, how could I have forgotten...”

“Sorry, I...”

“And the smell... hasn't improved much since I brought them. Okay, let's think of something else.”

“Daniel, seriously, just leave it alone, I’ll be all right...”

“Nonsense! Let’s see...”

“Please, seriously. I can handle it, go home, I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself, you know? You don’t deserve this, I’m not your fuckin’ responsibility, I’m not your wife, I’m not your daughter... Go home to your woman, and to your children... I can handle it.”

“You know what, I’m going to pop over to Guto’s grocery store around the corner. I’ll be right back!”

“Daniel, stop...”

“Any special requests?”

“Please stop it, that’s all I ask...”

“I’ll bring a little bit of everything, better that way, huh, what do you think?”

“Daniel, just... just leave me alone, please! Please…”

“What if I make that lasagna you loved so much, especially for you? Remember, the only thing I know how to do right and that doesn’t make the person who eats it pee out the wrong hole for the next three days? Haha! Remember? You’re the one who came up with the name. What do you think?”

“God... How do I make you stop, for the love of God!”

“Just say yes.”

“Do whatever the fuck you want...”

“I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Stupid, stupid bitch!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Enough with that!”

“It’s all my fault, I should have changed this damn lock a long time ago. Let’s do it like this: I let you play my knight in white armor one last time and then you disappear from my life, okay?”

“Jen...”

“Daniel, man, leave me alone, for God's sake!”

“...”

“Is it so hard to understand and respect this?! Peace, peace, I just want peace! I want to be left alone, to be forgotten! I'm not a child, damn it!”

“...”

“And next time you leave, leave the fucking copy of the key, or give it back to my mother. And take the opportunity to send her a little message from me too. Tell her that... Fuck! No, don't say anything, just... Just give the key back or leave it here or throw it away, or whatever... some shit like that, just don't come back here again.”

“Jen, please...”

“Daniel, stop it, and take your hands off me, leave me alone!”

“Please don’t cry. We just want to make sure you’re okay, we want you to be okay.”

“I will. I will be much better once you forget me, once you all forget me and start minding your own fuckin’ business!”

“Jen... Honey...”

“Let go of me! Go buy the shit you have to buy and do the shit you feel you have to do and then leave me alone, man, please! Let's just... get this over with.”

“I’ll be right back, okay?”

“...”

“Are you going to be okay, Jen?”

“Just fuckin’ go already! My purse is there on the sideboard, at least use my money this time, do at least that.”

“...”

“Fuck… Daniel?”

“...”

“Look, I’m sorry… I’m sorry I lost my head again...”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I’ll be right back.”

“You know, I... I dreamed about him last night...”

“...”

“He was wearing that little blue T-shirt, the one with the little fish printed on it, and those light blue jean shorts your mom gave him for his second birthday, remember?”

“Jen...”

“He gave me a huge, beautiful smile, those little eyes shining, and he came running towards me. 'Mommy!' he shouted and...”

“Jen, I… I’ll be right back, okay? Can we talk about this later?”

“Sure... Later...”

“I’ll be right back...”